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Point Pelee 4/05/26

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A big improvement in the weather today, the wind swinging round to the SW and consequently it was much warmer, with temperature up to 23 C in the afternoon.  The change in weather was reflected in bird numbers, in particular with more warblers compared to yesterday. I had a late start today and decided to check the Delaurier Homestead and Trail rather than head down to the point. I'd read good reports about this site and so it proved with four new species of warbler seen there: Parula, Chestnut-sided, Nashville and Cape May. They all showed exceptionally well in small trees alongside the boardwalk. Also seen at this site was Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Eastern Kingbird, Purple Martin, Palm Warbler, and a female Turkey, so close I could barely focus on it. In the afternoon I again explored the Tilden Woods loop, and although generally quieter than the homestead trail, it did nevertheless provide outstanding views of Yellow Warbler, plus a Black-faced Blue, Baltimore Oriole, another Nash...
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Point Pelee, Ontario 3/05/26

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My first day's birding since arriving in Canada. Staying at Kingsville, it's half an hour's drive to the famed migration site of Point Pelee. I arrived at 7:15 to blue skies and a brisk NW wind, far from ideal conditions as less likely to cause a fall of migrating birds. However, it was an opportunity to get to know the area which is a long peninsula stretching out into Lake Erie. After parking near the visitor centre I concentrated on a couple of nearby trails, including the Tilden Woods. Both White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows were near the parking lot as were Red-winged Blackbirds, though it soon became apparent that the latter were just about everywhere, the commonest bird today. Warbler numbers were a bit thin though Yellow was the most visible species. This was followed by several each of Yellow-rumped and Black and White Warblers, a couple of Northern Waterthrush, and singles of Common Yellowthroat and Palm Warbler.  Downy Woodpecker gave close views and have ...
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Seasalter Levels 29/04/26

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I arrived at 7:20 for the BTO Breeding Bird Survey at Seasalter. It was a sunny day though very windy. No surprise that the reserve is much drier since the previous visit in February for the Winter Bird Survey, though looks in superb condition. It was nice to see Yellow Wagtails, eight in total, plus good numbers of Skylarks today; of the 18 birds the majority were singing males. Sedge Warblers slightly outnumbered Reed Warbler as the commonest warbler with 14 individuals. A migrant flock of 10 Whimbrel flew west over the railway line, and a male Peregrine caused some mayhem amongst the Starlings and other birds on the marsh. Knowing that a Common Crane was still in the area I looked out for it, and found the bird on the east side of the reserve. It flew NW, more or less towards me in the direction of the railway line. Common Crane
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